Surface skimmer for swimming pools and method



June 20, 1961 o. M. LOMBARDI SURFACE SKIMMER FOR SWIMMING POOLS ANDMETHOD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 31, 1958 m w w M R E W O ATmRNEKS'June 20, 1961 o. M. LOMBARD| 2,989,185

SURFACE SKIMMER FOR SWIMMING POOLS AND METHOD Filed Jan. 31, 1968 2 heet2 INVENTOR. OLIVER M LOMBARD/ A r TORNEVS Unite States atent 2,989,185SURFACE SKIMMER FOR SWIMMING POOLS AND METHOD Oliver M. Lombardi, 25Palm Ave., "San Rafael, Calif. Filed Jan. 31, 1958, Ser. No. 712,501 6Claims. (Cl. 210-65) This invention relates to a device for use inremoving floating foreign material from swimming pools and other bodiesof water. Heretofore devices for removing leaves, twigs, and otherfloating debris or foreign material from pools have been in fixedpositions, with the result that a reasonably effective installation hasusually required the use of a plurality of skimming devices, thusrequiring quite expensive installation expense in addition to the costof the devices, and when completed the devices still would haverelatively low efliciency in reaching to certain areas of the pool, andthey would also be limited for their use to certain restricted waterlevels.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of anautomatic skimming device that overcomes the heretofore disadvantagesand limitations above mentioned, and which device is adapted to reachany surface area of the pool where debris may be floating, and therebyperform, within seconds of time, a debris collecting operation thatmight require hours in the case of the fixed devices.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an automaticskimming device that is operative solely by water, under pressure in acity or household water system or in the recirculation system of aswimming pool.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an automatic skimmerthat is adapted to move under the influence of atmospheric air currentsto the same places in a pool as those where floating debris will becarried or moved under the influence of the same air currents, thusautomatically positioning itself where the skimming operation will bemost efliciency performed.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improvedmethod of collecting the floating debris in a swimming pool by the stepsof inducing the debris to be carried to a particular place and thenmoved into the water below the level of the water in the pool andrefloated in a confined space from which it can readily be lifted orremoved from the water in the pool.

An additional object is the provision of a skimmer adapted to beactuated by the operation of introducing fresh water into the pool, thusperforming the function of replenishing the water in the pool and at thesame time collecting the floating debris for removal therefrom.

Another object is the provision of a skimmer that is adapted to operatewith equal efficiency irrespective of the level of the water in thepool, provided there is suflicient water to float the device, and whichdevice will automatically follow the level of the water in the pool.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description and in thedrawings.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the skimming device.

FIG. 2 is a reduced size top plan view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a swimming pool with the skimnrming device ofFIG. 1 indicated therein and connected for use.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

ice

FIG. 8 is a perspective view looking from above of a self containedskimmer including its source of power.

In detail, a generally tubular body 1 is adapted to be supported uprightwithin the water of a pool. The cylindrical wall of this body may have apair of opposedly positioned upright, spaced extensions 2 (FIG 3) inupward continuation of said cylindrical walls, which extensions form theinner adjacent walls of a pair of hollow float members, or buoyantmembers, generally designated 3. The outer walls 4 of said hollow floatmembers are connected at their edges with the edges of the extensions 2by relatively narrow top, bottom and end walls, and each of the saidwalls 4 is preferably curved horizontally to be concentric with thecurvature of the extension 2 that is adjacent thereto (FIG. 5).

Flat, vertical, horizontally spaced, opposed walls 5 respectively extendbetween the opposite lateral ends of the curved walls 2 and across theupper end of the body 1. These walls 5 have selections 6 (FIGS. 3, 4)that extend downwardly into the tubular body 1 to points substan tiallyeven with the lower circular edges of the latter. Said extensions 5coact with each other to form two of the opposite sides of a verticallyextending central passageway 7. The other two sides 8 of said passagewayare curved as seen in FIG. 4 to form channels 24 and to meet the upperedges of the tubular member 1 at points near or approximately at thelower sides of the float members 3 and they define a restricted throatat a point intermediate the upper and lower ends of said sides. Thus thepassageway 7 is generally of venturi shape in one dimension.

A conduit 10 in the form of a pipe extends over the space between thefloat members at one end, while the other end projects laterally fromone of said float members and is secured to a float 11. The end of thepipe or conduit 10 that is adjacent to float 11 may be provided with aconventional vacuum breaker 13, which vacuum breaker, in turn, isadapted to connect with an ordinary hose coupling member on one end of aflexible hose 12.

The portion of the conduit that extends to a position over passageway 7has a downwardly projecting jet nozzle 14 threadedly connected thereto,which nozzle is coaxial with said passageway 17, and its lower dischargeend preferably projects slightly into the upper end of said passagewayand below the level of the water in the pool when the skimmer is floatedin such pool.

The tubular member 1 virtually forms a skirt depending downwardly fromthe adjacent sides of the pair of float members 3. The lower edge ofsaid skirt may be formed with a circular head or ridge 15 over which theupper marginal portion of a mesh bag 16 may extend. An elastic cord ordrawstring 17 may releasab ly secure the mouth of the bag around theskirt above the bead 15.

The mesh openings in bag 16 are sufliciently large to permit the waterto flow therethrough but twigs, leaves and other floatable solids Willbe caught. Bag 16 is preferably floatable itself, so as not to addweight to the device.

As best seen in FIG. 3 the portion between the walls 5, 2 at the innerside of each float member 3 is open at the lower and upper ends, andthese will form an upwardly opening compartment 19 at the inner side ofeach of said float members. i

In operation, the flexible hose 12 may be connected at one end to afaucet 20 at one side of the pool 21 (FIG. 5). Floats 22 on said hoseWill support it above or at the surface of the water, and the other endof the hose is secured to the hose coupling in conduit 10.

When body 1 is placed in the water, it will be substantially verticaland will support the skimmer device so that the upper end of passageway7 and the discharge end of nozzle 14 are below the water level 23 (FIG.4). The float 11 that is connected with the conduit 10 will 3 preventobjectionable tipping of the skimmer due to its connection with the hose12.

As seen in FIG. 5 the skimmer can be moved quickly to any point on thesurface of the water, and it will automatically be carried to theleeward wall of the pool where the debris will also be carried. Thus itwill automatically float to the place where the debris will be moved bythe wind, and will therefore be in a position to function mostefliciently.

A relatively low water pressure in the hose 12 will satisfactorilyactuate the ejector arrangement that comprises the nozzle 14 andpassageway 7, and when the water is ejected downwardly into thepassageway 7 it will induce a flow of the surface water of the pool,including the debris thereon, into the open upper end of the passageway7 for entrainment into the jet from nozzle 14, and the debris includingthe water in the passageway 7 will be ejected into the bag 16. Thedebris will then float upwardly into the compartments 19 where it willbe held until the skimmer is lifted out of the water. The bag 16 willhold the debris upon lifting the skimmer out of the water and the bagcan be removed to empty it or the debris can be shaken out of the bagthrough the central passageway 7 and the compartments 26 upon invertingthe skimmer.

it will be noted that the material refloated into compartments 19 doesnot affect the buoyancy of the skimmer because such material is floatingon a surface open to the atmosphere. In other words the originalbuoyancy of the skimmer remains unchanged throughout its operation asfloatable debris is collected in compartments 19. This is importantbecause, as seen in FIG. 4, any substantial vertical movement of theskimmer in response to a change in buoyancy would either raise channels24 up to or above the water level preventing the desired movement ofsurface water to the vertically disposed conduit 7 or would lower saidchannels so far below the surface as to eliminate the entraining effectof nozzle 14.

Another desirable feature of the present invention is that the downwardthrust of the jet from nozzle 14 during its operation will tend to raiseor elevate the device in the water. Any air that may be entrained withthe water will, of course, freely bubble out of the water in thecompartments 26.

The channels 24 extending radially from the central passageway 7 (FIG.2) confine the water to flowing between the walls 5 thus materiallyaccelerating the Velocity of the water at the skimmer therebyaccelerating the flow of debris to the skimmer. The velocity of thewater through the venturi passageway 7 will be dependent upon the waterpressure, and, as stated, the device will operate under a head at thenozzle of only a relatively few pounds pressure to the full pressure ofa city main or household system and higher.

It is, of course, apparent that the skimmer will automatically followthe water level in the pool, and will operate with equal efliciency atthe different levels. No moving parts are required, and the device canbe made of any suitable plastic or other material to resist corrosionand to withstand the effects of weather, etc.

It is also to be understood that the detailed description and drawingsare not intended to be restrictive of the invention, but the claims areintended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of theinvention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure, which do notconstitute departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

As one example of a modification, instead of floats 22, as seen in FIG.6, the hose floats may be of cylindrical or spherical external contouras seen at 25 in FIG. 7 and may be centrally apertured for threadingonto the hose 26, thus assuring the hose being supported on the water atthe same level irrespective of turning or twisting of the hose. Thenumber of floats so employed and their size with respect to the weightof the hose will, of

course, determine the level at which the hose is supported, which ispreferably above the surface of the water to leave a space 27 so thatthe leaves and debris will float under it, rather than being caught bythe hose. Obviously said floats may be of cork or hollow bodies, or ofany suitable structure to make them buoyant.

It should further be noted that instead of employing the faucet 20 asthe source of water under pressure, the hose 12 may be connected to thepressure side of the recirculation system for a swimming pool ifdesired.

It will also be apparent that a water pump independent of the domesticwater supply and the recirculation system and driven by any convenientmeans may be incorporated in the above described system to provide thejet of water from nozzle 14. Such a pump may be part of the skimmeritself if desired.

FIG. 8 is illustrative of a skimmer that is a self contained unitincluding a pump P the intake side of which is connected with conduit 30that extends into the water of the pool. The outlet conduit from pump Pconnects with the jet nozzle I that is in the same position as nozzle 14and of the same structure. Motor M is connected by belt 31 with the pumpP for actuating the latter, and a battery B having a switch S thereon isconnected with motor M for actuating the latter.

While fresh water is not added to the water of the pool by the skimmerof FIG. 8, it is apparent that it will freely float under the influenceof the atmospheric air to the same position in a pool the leaves andfloating debris, which is usually at one end or the other of the pool orat one side or the other where it is easily reached by an operator atthe end or side of the pool. If not, a gaff can readily bring it withinreach of the operator for starting and stopping the motor throughactuation of the switch.

Normally a protective removable cover (not shown) is over the motor andpump, the same being not shown in order to expose the operatingelements.

I claim:

1. The method of removing floating solids from the surface of a swimmingpool that comprises the steps of: inducing a flow of the surface waterof said pool horizontally to a predetermined point for carrying saidsolids therewith to said point, then causing a down flow of said waterat said point together with said solids into the water of the pool to adistance below the level of the water of said pool for refloating ofsaid solids, confining the solids so moved downwardly within fixedlimits adjacent to said point and permitting them to refloat to saidsurface of the pool adjacent to said point within said fixed limits andreleasing the water that carried said solids to said point anddownwardly thereat for mixing with the body of water in said pool freefrom confinement within said limits, and thereafter removing the solidsso confined from said pool.

2. The method of removing floating material from the surface of a poolthat comprises the steps of inducing a flow of the surface water of saidpool including the material carried thereby horizontally to apredetermined point on said surface by injecting a stream of waterdownwardly into the water of said pool at said point, entraining saidmaterial in said stream for thereby moving said material downwardly intothe water of said pool and immediately thereafter permitting the solidsso entrained to float back to the surface of the water adjacent to saidstream and confining said solids against freely mixing with the body ofwater in said pool while permitting the said stream of water todissipate into the body of water of said pool and to intermingletherewith free from confinement, and finally removing the solids soconfined.

3. The method of replenishing a swimming pool with fresh water and atthe same time collecting floating solids on the Water of said pool forremoval therefrom that comprises the steps of, directing a jet of freshwater downwardly into the Water of said pool at a point below the waterlevel of said pool within a vertically open but horizontally confinedpath for establishing a flow of the surface water of said poolhorizontally to said path and downwardly therein with said surface waterand the said material carried thereby in entrainment with said jet, thenpermitting the fresh water of said jet to freely with the water in saidpool while at the same time confining said solids to float at the levelof said pool against free mixing with the remainder of said water forremoval from said pool.

4. A skimmer for use in collecting debris floating on the water of aswimming pool, comprising: a member having a vertically extendingpassageway provided with an inlet at its upper end and an outlet at itslower end, a conduit for water under pressure having a downwardlydirected discharge aperture positioned within said passageway to inducea flow of fluid through said inlet and downwardly through saidpassageway and out of the latter upon discharge of water from saidaperture, a float connected with said conduit and said member arrangedand adapted to float on the water of such pool and to support saidmember in a position with said inlet submerged under the water levelwhen so floating and with said inlet in communication with the wateraround said float at said level whereby the surface water in such poolincluding the debris carried thereby will be induced to flow into saidinlet and out of said outlet when water under pressure is dischargedfrom said aperture, means for connecting said conduit with a source ofwater under pressure and a perforate walled enclosure carried by saidfloat in a position around said outlet for collecting debris ejectedfrom said outlet while permitting escape of water, a compartment carriedby said float having an open lower end adjacent to said outlet forreceiving refloated debris discharged from said outlet, and the upperend of said compartment being open and spaced above the level of thewater of such pool when said float floatin-gly supports said member inthe water of said pool.

5. A skimmer for use in collecting debris floating on the water of aswimming pool, comprising: a member having a vertically extendingpassageway provided with an inlet at its upper end and an outlet at itslower end, a conduit for water under pressure having a downwardlydirected discharge aperture positioned within said passageway to inducea flow of fluid through said inlet and downwardly through saidpassageway and out of the latter upon discharge of water from saidaperture, a float connected with said conduit and said member arrangedand adapted to float on the water of such pool and to support saidmember in a position with said inlet submerged under the water levelwhen so floating and with said inlet in communication with the wateraround said float at said level whereby the surface water in such poolincluding the debris carried thereby will be induced to flow into saidinlet and out or said outlet when water under pressure is dischargedfrom said aperture, means for connecting said conduit with a source ofwater under pressure and a perforate walled enclosure carried by saidfloat in a position around said outlet for collecting debris ejectedfrom said outlet while permitting escape of water, a compartment carriedby said float having an open lower end adjacent to said outlet forreceiving refloated debris discharged from said outlet, and the upperend of said compartment being open and spaced above the level of thewater of such pool when said float floatingly supports said member inthe water of such pool, means on said float for connecting the walls ofsaid enclosure thereto, and the walls of said enclosure being suspendedfrom said means below said float and said member.

6. A skimmer for collecting debris floating on the surface water of apool for removal of said debris from such pool comprising: a perforatewalled bag having an open upper end, a body having a vertically directedpassageway open at its upper and lower ends and bag engaging meansradially spaced from said passageway for supporting the open upper endof said bag spaced around the lower open end of said passageway, buoyantmeans connected with said body adapted to support the latter in thewater of such pool with the open upper end of said passageway incommunication with the surface water at the water surface level, and aconduit carried by said body having a downwardly directed dischargenozzle positioned within the upper open end of said passageway forinducing a flow of the surface water of such pool including the debriscarried thereby into said open upper end and downwardly through saidpassageway and into said bag upon discharge of water under pressure fromsaid nozzle, and means for connecting said nozzle with a source of waterunder pressure, said body including a compartment at one side of saidpassageway opening downwardly into the open end of said bag and havingwalls projecting above the level of the water in such pool when saidbuoyant means supports said body in the pool for collecting debrisdischarged from said outlet and refloated to the surface of said water.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS894,056 Rogers July 21, 1908 1,893,411 Hallermann Jan. 3, 1933 2,117,982Prince May 17, 1938 2,202,772 Durdin r May 28, 1940 2,330,508 McCollSept. 28, 1943 2,367,997 Chambers Jan. 23, 1945 2,439,866 Saladin Apr.20, 1948 2,579,304 Crawford Dec. 18, 1951 2,667,270 Cady et al Jan. 26,1954 2,725,356 Lombardi Nov. 29, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 299,110 GermanySept. 5, 1919

